U.S. Reports Quiet in Israel; 50 U.S. Planes “demonstrate” over Jordan

July 18, 1958

WASHINGTON (Jul. 17)

A Defense Department spokesman today officially announced that 50 U.S. Navy jets made a low level “demonstration” flight down the Jordan River and over the State of Jordan today. He said he could not state if the planes crossed Israeli air space.

He reported that Israel had been quiet and there were no information received by the U.S. military of mobilization or unusual military activity in Israel. The jets were from the U. S. carriers “Saratoga” and “Essex” off the coast of Israel and Lebanon. The purpose of the flight was to “let it be known they were there.”